Vine remover and chopper



March 6, 1951 F. JoHNsoN 2,544,023

VINE REMOVER AND CHOPPER Filed March 24, 1948 e shams-sheet 1 V lill/11.1. Ablllc'l;

March 6, 1951 F. JOHNSON 2,544,923

VINE REMOVER AND CHPPER Filed MaICh 24, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 6, 1951 F, JOHNSON 2,544,023

VINE REMOVER AND CHOPPER Filed March 24, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 C@ //7 ,I I 4-5 /M AI n March 6, 1951 F. JoHNsoN VINE REMOVER AND CHOPPER 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 24, 1948 March 6, 1951 F. JOHNSON 2,544,023

VINE REMOVER AND CHOPPER Filed March 24, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 6, 1951 F. JOHNSON VINE REMOVER AND CHOPPER 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 24, 1948 frz' dfn/2725071 Patented Mar. 6, 1951 UNITED bSTATES PATENT OFFICE VIN-E' REMOVER. AND CHOPFER Fritz Johnson, Idaho Falls, .Idaho Application March 24, 1948, Serial No. 16,849

2 Claims.

This inventiony relates toa `machine for pulling and comminuting potato vinesweeds or the like.

An object of this invention -is to provide a machine which is so constructed and arranged vthat it will pull potato vines Without pulling :the potatoes, and'will-then-cut up the vines'and` deposit the cut vines onto the ground.-

Another Vobject of this invention is to provide in combination wtha vine puller and cutter of this kind rollers at. the rear of the machine whichA will not only break upclods, but will also close the holes formedfbyj-pullingfthe vines sothat` insects-oruthe like will not enter the Vground and injure the potatoes.

A furtherV object offthis invention` is to :pro-y vide a machine of this kind Vwhich-is so constructed that the rotary'cutting member is sup:-

ported above the pulling rollers so as to `cutthe vines while they; are still ,gripped ybetween vthe rollers.-

A further -`object -of this inventionwis VVto pro? vide ina machine of this kind'improved-:pulling rollers which are so constructed and rotated `.at such speed as to effectively pull the vines from the potatoes-without-breaking thevines and.

leaving stubs stickingabove Vthe ground..

With the useof this '.machineythe ripeningpe-` riod of` the potatoes can; be shortened andxdeflf nitely set, as afteruthevines have been'pulled the potatoes which are .now substantially r full.`

the accompanying i drawings, Y but it is to beA understood that changes, variations, and modications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a detailed side elevation of a'vine removing and cutting machine constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.\V

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the liney 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken. on the line,

4-4 of Figurev 1.

on .which a wheel 2S,is rotatablyA mounted." The 2 Figure 5 is Va sectional -viewtaken on the-line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional Viewv taken ion the line,` S-G of Figure A1.

Figure '7 is vafragmentary verticall sectioni showing onevof the lroller supporting and ten-Y` sioning means.`

Figure 8 is-afragmentary sectional view` taken4 i substantially on the line B-Bfof Figure 2.A

Figure9 is a fragmentary end elevation partly in section of one of the nadjustable roller supports.

FigureA 10` is a fragmentary transverse section-gshowing the correlation-between the rotary cut- Y .ter and the-rollers.

Figure v11 is -a fragmentary sectional View taken on.the;line l I--ll of Figure 2.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary side'elevationV of a, modied form of ,rollerV -support carried by, the.. rear of the mobile frame.

Referring to the drawings andrst to Figures. 1 toll, inclusive, thenumeral l5 .designates gen-.- erally a mobile. frame. which is formed .of for.F ward and rear transverse frame members .I6 and I1, respectively, which are connected ,at...their opposite ends to longitudinal or sideframemem.-- bers i8. The frame `l5 also includes an intermediate channellmember I9 which. isl disposed-A closelyadjacent to the Afrontcross member. I6... The frame.l5,also includes apar lof vwheel ,supe porting levers 2K3 disposed'one at eachgside of the frame andthe wheel `supporting vlevers 20 are rockablysupported between a pair of dependingbearing plates 2| 'and22 as shown inA Figure 6. The wheel lever 201inc1udes. a tubular .bearing 23 which is welded or otherwise fixed tothe forwardend ,of the lever 20and a shaft 24 extendslthrough the ,bearing sleeve 23 and. alsoA through bearings 25 and 26 carried by the sup--V portingplates v2i and 22, respectively. Theshaft 24 is iixed against the longitudinal and` rotary movement by means of a pin 21 extending throughthe bearing or bushingv 25 which is the outer bushing.

.The lever 25 hassecured thereto. aspindle 28 frame l5 'is adapted to `be raised or loweredby means of a ,hydraulic .frame adjustingmember. Swhich. is rockably secured at its upper end-0n.

va pivot 3l extending between a pair of upstanding,plates 32 which are fixed to and eXtend,upwardly from the-rear frame fmember l1. The hydraulic member S'is pivotally .connected as at 33 to the-upper side of the lever 2f] and the cylinderof theihydraulic member 3|). is connected by means of a pressure line 34 to a suitable source of fluid pressure supply. In the present instance the hydraulic member 30 is a single acting hydraulic cylinder and plunger with the latter urged downwardly by discharge of fluid under pressure into the cylinder. In order to prevent the frame I from rocking unduly and from pulling the plunger from the hydraulic cylinder, I have provided a spring 35 which is connected as at 36 to the lever 20. The spring 35 is secured at its upper end on a nut 31 through which a spring tensioning bolt 38 is threaded. The bolt 38 is extended through a conecting plate 39 which connects the two upright plates 32 together.

The machine herein disclosed is designed to pull and simultaneously cut the potato vines or vines of other vegetables or plants by means of two pairs of pulling rollers with a rotary cutter associated with each pair of pulling rollers. As shown'in Figure 2 one pair 40 and 4| of pulling rollers are rotably and suspendingly carried by the frame I5 inside the wheels 29 and a second pair 42 and 43 of pulling rollers are also rotatably and suspendingly carried by the frame I5. The supporting means together with the operating means for each pair of rollers is the same and the details of construction and operation of one pair of rollers will apply equally as well to the other pair of rollers.

The roller 40 comprises an elongated longitudinally ribbed roller body 44 which is formed at its forward end with a tapered leading end 45. The roller 44 is secured to a roller shaft 45 which is journalled in front and rear bearings which are carried by depending supporting -bars 41 and 48, respectively. In Figure 12 there is disclosed one of the bearings for the rollers, the bearing being designated 49, and bearing 49 is adjusted vertically by means of a threaded bolt 50 which is threaded through an ear 5| carried by the roller supporting bar. The roller 4| is carried by front and rear supporting bars 52 and 53, respectively, which are swingably secured as at 54 to the frame l5.

Referring now to Figure '1, there is disclosed a tensioning means for the swingable roller supporting bars 52 and 53 which includes a spring 55 engaging a flanged head 56 carried by an adjusting bolt 51 which is threaded through a depending bar 58 xed at its upper end to the frame I5. In order to provide a means whereby the outward or lateral swinging of the supporting bars 52 and 53 may be limited, I have provided a stop member 59 which is threaded through the fixed bar 58 and locked in adjusted position by means of a lock nut 60. The stop member 59 extends toward the roller supporting bar and will Y limit the outward swinging of the adjustable roller with respect to the associated fixed roller.

As will be noted from Figure 2, the roller 42 which is the fixed roller has the fixed supporting bar 48 thereof braced by means of bracing bars 6| and 62 which are connected together, the bar 6| being connected to the lower end of bar '58. The shaft 46 has secured thereto a pulley l` 63 about which a belt 64 is trained. The belt 64 extends upwardly and is trained about an upper pulley 65 mounted on a countershaft 66. The countershaft 66 is journalled through bearings 61 carried by'upright plates 68, 69, 10 and 1|.

'Ihe plates 58 and 69 are outer plates whereasV the plates 10 and 1| are inner plates being disposed adjacent the longitudinal center of the frame I5 and a pulley 12 is fixed on the shaft 66 between the plates 10 and 1|. The plates 68 to 1 I, inclusive, are vertically slotted as indicated at 13 so that the bearing securing bolts 14 may be vertically adjusted in order to adjust the bearings 61. The bearings 61 are adjusted by means of an adjusting bolt 15 which is threaded through an ear 16 carried by each of the upright plates 68 to 1|, inclusive.

A drive shaft 11 is journalled through bearings 18 and 19 carried by the frame I5 and the shaft 18 has secured thereto a pulley 80 about which one or more belts 8| are trained. The belts 8| extend upwardly and over the pulley 12. The

shaft 11 has mounted on the forward end therey of a universal joint 82 with which a connecting shaft 83 is connected so that the shaft 11 may be coupled to the power take-off or other power means at the forward portion of the frame I5. A rotary cutter, generally designated as 84, is correlated with each pair vof pulling rollers being rotatably supported above each pair of rollers with the axis thereof in substantially the vertical plane of the meeting point between the members of each pair of rollers. The cutter 84 includes a cylindrical body 85 which is fixed to a shaft 86 and the shaft B6 is journalled through bearings 81 and 88 which are vertically adjustable as will be hereinafter described. The cylindrical body 85 has extending from the periphery thereof a plurality of longitudinally extending bars 89 on which cutting blades 90 are secured by fastening members 9|. The blades 90 provide in addition to their cutting characteristic a fan blade means for creating a laterally moving draft of air for laterally carrying the cut vines during the rotation of the cutter 84. The bearing 81 is secured by fastening means 92 to'an angle bar 93 fixed on the lower end of a vertically adjustable plate 93. The plate 93 is provided with vertically extending slots 94 through which securing bolts 95 extend, The bolts 95 extend through the intermediate transverse frame bar I9 as shown in Figure 5. The bar I9 has xed to the upper side thereof an angle bar 96 forming an extension of the forward side of the channel bar I9 and the angle bar 96 is also provided with vertically extending slots 91 through which additional securing members 99 are extended. The upper end of the plate 93 has secured thereto a nut or threaded ear 96 through which a plate adjusting bolt |00 is threaded.

The angle member 96 has extending upwardly therefrom an upright bar |0| having a horizontally and forwardly extending upper end portion |02 through which the bolt |00 rotatably engages. The bearing 88 is adjustably supported by means i'milar to the supporting means for the lbearing The cutter |shaft 86 has fixed thereon a pulley |03 about which a belt |04 is trained and the belt |04 is also trained about a relatively large driving pulley |05 which is fixed on the drive shaft 11. In practice the cutter shaft 86 and the cutter 84 will rotate at a very substantially faster rate than the pulling rollers 40 and 4|. In this manner the upwardly moving vines or plants which are drawn upwardly through the ribbed body portions-of the pulling rollers will be cut into very small pieces and these pieces will be centrifugally drawn laterally of the pulling rollers by the speed of the cutter and also by the draft of air created bythe cutting blades 90. In order 4to provide a means whereby the vines will be guided between the tapered forward ends or nosesof the rollers 40 andY 4I, I have provided a Ypair of forwardly divergent guide and vine elevating members |06 and |01 which are secured at their rear portions 5;. to the supporting bars 41 and 52- for the roller bearings. The guiding and elevating members |66 and IIlI include forwardly projecting ngers Il and |09, respectively, at their lower forward ends which are adapted to. engage beneath any bent or fallen vines so as to raise these vines in order that they may be guided between the guiding members Itit and I'I toward the pulling rollers The cutter tl` has a combined guard and guide at the forward end thereof, generally designated as Ile, which is fixed by means of a pair of bolts III to the forward side of the plate $13. The combined guard` and guide extends downwardly and rearwardly into the space between the tapered forward ends of thel pulling rollers. The combined guard and guide will prevent any tall vines from engaging against the forward end of the rotating cutter 851 and packing or otherwise obstructing the proper operation of the cutting member Bil.

The frame I has secured to the forward end thereof a drawbar i I2 which is adapted to be secured to the rear of a tractor or other traction device so that the frame I may be pulled over the surface of the ground with the wheels 29 engaging in the furrows between pairs of rows of potatoes or other hilled plants.

In order to provide a means whereby the holes formed in the ground by pulling of the vines and roots may be closed or covered, I have provided a roller IIS at the rear of each pair of pulling rollers. The roller H3 as shown in Figure 3 is formed with a concave peripheral surface I I4 and is mounted on a shaft I I5 journalled in bearings llt carried by rearwardly extending supporting levers III'. The supporting levers II'I are rockably mounted on pivot members II8 extending through depending bars I I9 which are xed to the rear or" the frame I5. An upper horizontal bar I2@ is fixed to and extends rearwardly from the frame l5, one on each side of the frame, and a downwardly extending bar I2I is pivoted as at |22 to the upper bar |20. The bar |2I is slotted at its lower end as at |23 and a pin |24 carried by the lever III slidingly engages through the slot |23. A spring |25 engages about the bar I2I, bearing at its upper end against a xed washer or collar |26 carried by the bar I2I and the lower end of the spring |25 bears against an ear |27 carried by the lever II?. Through the medium of the springs |25 the shaft supporting levers or bars II'I are constantly urged downwardly at their rear ends in order that the rollers I|3 will be spring-pressed 'to engage the peaks of the hills.

Referring now to Figure 12, there is disclosed a modied form of roller supporting and operating means at the rear of the mobile frame. The roller shaft supporting levers or bars I Ila through which the roller shaft |I5a is journalled have secured thereto adjacent the rear lower ends thereof by means of a pivot |28 the lower end of a piston rod |29. The piston rod |29 is connected to a piston ISB slidable in a hydraulic cylinder |3I and the cylinder ISI is rockably mounted as at |32 on the rearwardly extending upper horizontal bar I20c. In the present instance the cylinder ISII is adapted to be connected adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof by means of pressure supply lines |33 and |34, respectively, to a source of pressure supply. In this manner the roller IISa may be pressed downwardly by hydraulic pressure onto the tops of the hills to the desired degree .in order that the holes formed in the ground by pulling of the vines and roots will be completely closed.

shaft 'Il is connected by means of the connecting shaft 83- to a source of power which may be the power take-olf of a tractor. The drawbar II2 is connected to the rear of the tractor andthe machine is pulled over the surface of the ground with the wheels 29 engaging in a pair of furrows between rows of potatoes or other plants. As the device moves over the ground the pulling rollers 40 and il which rotate in opposite directions will vertically pull the vines which are guided therebetween by the guide members |Il8 and IIl'I. As the vines move vertically between and above the rollers dll and 4I, the vines or other plants will be cut into relatively small pieces by the rapidly rotating cutter 811. The cut vines will be discharged laterally of the pulling rollers being thrown laterally by the rapidly rotating cutting blades SB and also by the draft of air caused by rotation of the cutter 84. While I have shown a machine having two pairs of pulling rollers, it will beunderstood that this machine may be constructed with either one pair of pulling rollers or two or more pairs of such rollers. This machine has been placed under practical test and in such test the vines have been jerked upwardly by the pulling rollers in a manner to prevent breaking of the vines as they are pulled or jerked upwardly and at the same time to break the roots at the lower ends of the vines or stalks from the potatoes. It is contemplated that this machine be used in a eld prior to the harvesting of the potatoes and at a time when the potatoes are substantially full grown. The potatoes may be dug by means of conventional digging devices within a week or ten days after the vines have been pulled. By providing the covering rollers at the rear of the machine the holes in the ground will be closed so that insects, worms or the like will not go down into the ground through such holes and injure the potatoes.

The cutters 84 may be adjusted to a positionV closely adjacent the rotating pulling rollers so that at least one of these rollers may act as an associated cutting blade or, if desired, these cutting rollers may be adjusted a substantial distance from the pulling rollers. The vertical adjustment of each cutter will depend on the characteristic of the vines which are being pulled and cut. In other words, when the vines are green the' cutter may be adjusted to one position with respect to the pulling rollers whereas when the vines are substantially dry the cutter may be adjusted to a different position with respect to the pulling rollers.

lWith a machine as hereinbefore described the vines will be completely pulled from the ground and separated from the potatoes so that when the potatoes are dug the potatoes may be sacked or otherwise handled without the necessity of manually removing stubs of vines which have been left on the potatoes by prior devices.

I claim:

1. ,A vine remover and cutter comprising a mobile frame, a pair of longitudinally ribbed mutually contacting rollers carried by and disposed lengthwise of said frame and formed with tapered forward ends, a cutter rotatably carried by said frame and disposed lengthwise of said rollers with the axis of rotation thereof within the vertical projection of the line of contact of said rollers, and means fixed relative said frame for guiding the vines toward said rollers,

said'latter named rneans including a pair of forwardly divergent guide members, and a depending combined guide and guard fixed to the frame and disposed at the forward end of said cutter and having a rearwardly bent lower portion extending between said tapered forward ends.

2. A vine puller and cutter for connection with a tractor and the power take-offof the tractor, comprising a mobile frame having a front and rear, a pair of pulling rollers disposed in side by side relation below said frame, means connected with said frame and rollers rotatably supporting said rollers with the axes thereof disposed lengthwise of said frame, an elongated rotatable cutter carried by said frame above and closely adjacent said rollers, said cutter including longitudinally disposed elongated blades, said blades extending radially of the axis of rotation of the cutter for cutting the vines pulled by said rollers and for creating a lateral draft of air to thereby blow the cut vines laterally of the frame, a pair of upstanding bearing supports carried by the rear of said frame, a countershaft, bearings for said 8 countershaft carried by said supports, pulleys fixed relative to said rollers at the rear thereof, pulleys fixed to said countershaft, flexible driving connections between said rst and second named pulleys, a drive shaft journalled lengthwise of said frame below said countershaft, a flexible driving connection between said drive shaft and said countershaft, and a driving connection between said drive shaft and said cutter.

FRITZ JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,205,721 Elkins Nov. 21, 1916 1,269,111 Oliver June 11, 1918 1,358,302 Ellis Nov. 9, 1920 1,379,571 Jones May 24, 1921 1,435,752 Stiler et al Nov. 14, 1922 2,314,773 Dahlman Mar. 23, 1943 

